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With the economy, inflation, and the crazy stock markets, times are tough. There is a lot of uncertainty right now, which is causing a lot of individuals to feel concerned about their financial future and retirement years. The traditional way to save for an IRA—through investing in stocks and bonds—may not seem like the best idea to you right now, given everything that's going on. If you're looking for a better option for some or all of your retirement investment accounts, now may be the perfect opportunity to invest in precious metals.
With a Gold IRA, you'll be able to do just that. When you set up a new Gold IRA, sometimes called a Precious Metals IRA, you can hold gold, silver, and other precious metals in your retirement account. This can help diversify your portfolio and protect you against the crazy ups and downs of the stock market. Gold is valuable across the globe and is seen as a wise investment choice by many financial experts.
If you're ready to set up a Gold IRA, the first step is to choose the right company to work with. This can be a daunting task based on the sheer number of companies that show up when you perform a Google search. Lucky for you, we've done the research for you and have selected the five best Gold IRA companies that can help you get yourself in a better financial position to be able to enjoy your retirement years. Read on to learn more about each of these companies and decide which one you'd like to work with.
Gold IRA Company Reviews
#1. Goldco
Goldco is first on our list, and for good reason. We believe that Goldco is the best choice when you're looking to set up a Gold IRA. Between their knowledgeable and experienced team, excellent ratings from past customers, and impressive selection of precious metals, we are confident that you'll be pleased with this company. In the next few sections, we'll go into greater details about what really sets Goldco apart from the rest of the companies out there.
About Goldco
If you're not already familiar with Goldco, the company was founded in 2006 by Trever Gerszt. Gerszt aimed to offer top-quality products and services to his clients to help them feel more confident and financially secure.
In the years since it was founded, Goldco has proven to be the best Gold IRA company. From their highly positive reviews from past customers to the A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau an AAA rating from the Business Consumer Alliance, it should be clear to everyone that Goldco is a trusted and reputable company worthy of your business.
Gold IRAs
If you're ready to transfer or rollover an existing IRA into a Gold IRA, the team at Goldco will certainly be able to help you through the process. They employ experienced and knowledgeable individuals who are available to support you as you complete the required paperwork, provide advice and opinions regarding the best coins and bars for your account, and to answer any questions that you have throughout the process.
Goldco also offers a large selection of gold and silver coins and bars for their customers to choose from. Below are several of the available selections that satisfy the minimum purity requirements set by the IRS.
Gold
Silver
Gold IRA Promotion for Customers
In addition to all of the other reasons to consider working with Goldco, they are also offering a special promotion for new customers. When you open an eligible Gold IRA, you can earn up to 10% back in free silver. Silver is another precious metal that is highly sought after and likely to continue to increase in value, so this is a unique opportunity to help build up your personal stash.
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CONS
While we most strongly recommend Goldco, Augusta Precious Metals is another excellent option to consider if you're looking for the best Gold IRA company to work with. We think you'll find that Augusta Precious Metals offers attentive customer service and works hard to make sure each customer chooses the best metals for their specific portfolio goals.
About Augusta Precious Metals
Augusta Precious Metals was started in 2012 with the goal of helping their customers learn more about the possibilities associated with investing in precious metals. When you visit their website, you can learn more about the company's top priorities, which include transparency, simplicity, and service. Just reading the titles for these priorities helps provide more information about the company and how you can expect to be treated as a customer.
Augusta Precious Metals has earned an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau, the highest rating possible. The Business Consumer Alliance has also awarded Augusta Precious Metals with their highest rating, an AAA.
Precious Metals IRAs
Precious Metals IRAs, or Gold IRAs, are one of the key services available through Augusta Precious Metals. They know that their customers have plenty of other things to worry about, so they have worked to simplify the process of setting up an IRA. Your account representative will be available to offer support, answer questions, or help you complete the required paperwork.
Once the paperwork is completed, Augusta Precious Metals will work with your IRA custodian to transfer the funds. You'll then be able to purchase the gold and silver coins and bars for your account.
Choosing IRA-Approved Gold and Silver
Your account representative will help you select the right mix of gold and silver coins and bars to keep your new Gold IRA balanced. If you are unsure about which precious metals to hold in your account, they can offer suggestions and insights to help make the decision easier.
You'll find that Augusta Precious Metals offers a nice selection of gold and silver coins and bars that meet the minimum purity levels set by the IRS. Below are some of the options you can consider.
Gold
Silver
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CONS
Another top company to consider is American Hartford Gold. If you'd like to learn more about American Hartford Gold to decide if they're the right match for you, read through the next few sections.
About American Hartford Gold
Since the company was founded in 2015, American Hartford Gold has built a strong reputation in the industry. Sandford Mann, the company's founder, and the rest of the team place a high emphasis on delivery top-quality precious metals for their customer. Along with their competitive pricing, the company also offers a 100% satisfaction guarantee for all of their products and services.
American Hartford Gold has several 5-star reviews from past customers, along with an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau. These positive reviews speak to the company's philosophy and the services they provide for their customers.
Gold IRAs with American Hartford Gold
Setting up Gold IRAs for their customers is one of the key services offered by American Hartford Gold. In fact, they have worked to streamline the process down to just three simple steps, which are:
If you're interested in learning more about the precious metals that you can add to a Gold IRA with American Hartford Gold, here are several of the available options:
Gold
Silver
Take Advantage of the Free Silver Promotion
American Hartford Gold is currently running an exciting promotion for new IRA customers. With a qualified IRA, you can earn up to $5,000 in free silver along with up to three years of zero IRA fees. This little bonus really helps them stand out when compared to many other companies out there.
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#4. Birch Gold Group
We also think that Birch Gold Group is among the best of the best when it comes to setting up a Gold IRA. With Birch Gold Group, you'll even be able to add platinum and palladium to your IRA, in addition to the gold and silver that most other companies offer.
About Birch Gold Group
In the nearly 20 years since Birch Gold Group was founded, the company has become a well-known name and trusted source in the industry. Birch Gold Group boasts an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau and an AAA rating from the Business Consumer Alliance. They also have numerous positive reviews from past customers who share how glad they are that they chose to work with Birch Gold Group to set up their Gold IRA.
Perhaps the reason they have such glowing reviews is because of the personalized attention and respect Birch Gold Group delivers to each customer. Some of the company's core values that are shared on their website include: education, customer empowerment, efficiency, transparency, efficiency, and ethics.
Opening a Gold IRA
Opening a Gold IRA with Birch Gold Group is a very simple and straightforward process. You can either visit the website to send an email to the company or contact an account representative by phone. After you reach out, the representative will work with you to help you complete the necessary forms. They will also coordinate with the IRA custodian to ensure a smooth transfer of the funds from your account.
After your account is funded, you can also ask for suggestions regarding which coins and bars to invest in. As a Birch Gold Group customer, you can choose from their rather large selection of gold, silver, platinum, and palladium coins and bars.
Here are several of the available options:
Gold
Silver
Platinum
Palladium
Gold IRA Secure Storage
As a Birch Gold Group customer, you will be able to choose to have your precious metals stored in one of four highly-secure and trusted IRS-approved depositories. This is a benefit over many other companies that only offer one or two options. The four depositories to choose from include:
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CONS
#5. Noble Gold
Last, but not least, take a look at Noble Gold. While they haven't been in the industry as long as some of the other companies on our list, they have built a strong reputation as a trusted company. We'll share more about Noble Gold in the next few sections.
About Noble Gold
In 2016, Collin Plume and Charles Thorngren started Noble Gold with the mission of providing honesty and understanding to each client to aid them in making the best investment decisions. Noble Gold has earned the highest rating of A+ from the Better Business Bureau and the second-highest rating of AA from the Business Consumer Alliance. They are also highly rated by previous customers on review sites such as TrustLink and Google.
Precious Metals IRAs
If you're ready to open a Precious Metals IRA, the team at Noble Gold would love to help you. Visit their website and click on the "Get Started" button. This will direct you to a page where you can enter your information on the Account Setup Form.
Once you've completed this step, a member of the Noble Gold team will reach out to you to set up a transfer through a Gold IRA custodian. Throughout the process, the team member will be available to help you make sure the paperwork is completed correctly and answer any questions that arise.
After the funds arrive to your new Gold IRA, the representative you've been working with will help you purchase the precious metals you want to hold in your account. A benefit of choosing Noble Gold is that you'll also be able to invest in platinum and palladium, rather than just gold and silver as so many other companies offer.
Here are many of the coins and bars that Noble Gold's clients can add to the Gold IRA:
Gold
Silver
Platinum
Palladium
Secure Storage
After you invest your hard-earned money in precious metals, you want to feel confident that they are safe and secure. The IRS does not allow individuals to take possession of their precious metals until they are at least 59 ½, so you'll have to store them in an IRS-approved depository. Fortunately, Noble Gold works with International Depository Services in Dallas, Texas.
This Texas location, combined with the positive reputation that International Depository Services has, should give you some peace of mind that your precious metals are secure. Texas is big on state's rights, so you shouldn't need to worry about the potential for government seizure of your metals. With the high-tech security measures and full insurance for your metals, they'll certainly be ready for you when you're ready to retire.
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How to Choose the Right Gold IRA Company for You
Now that you've learned a little more about our top five Gold IRA companies, it is almost time for you to decide which company you'd like to work with. Before making a final decision, though, it is important to take some time to prioritize what is most important to you. Use the considerations outlined below to help you choose a company that will deliver what you need and deserve.
Reputation and Experience
Always research a company before giving them your business. Start by looking up how many years of experience they have in the industry and checking on their reputation with past customers. Every company's website will claim that they are trustworthy, offer superior customer service, and promise the best quality products, but the reviews from past customers can help you see the true picture.
Review sites, such as Google, Trustpilot, and TrustLink can be an excellent resource to see what others have said. The Better Business Bureau and Business Consumer Alliance are two organizations that also offer reviews and ratings for different business.
Customer Service
When you're investing your hard-earned money in precious metals, you want to feel confident that you'll receive top-notch customer service. Before giving your business to anyone, learn more about the customer service they offer. Choose a company that will be there to help you through the process of setting up an IRA and that will be able to offer support and guidance as you choose the best coins and bars to add to your account.
IRA Fees
IRA fees are unavoidable—everyone charges them. However, they can vary from one company to the next. Research the fees that each precious metals provider charges to set up and manage accounts. If the company freely shares this information with you, it should provide you with more confidence than a company that tries to keep this information secret.
Selection
Finally, don't forget to consider the selection of coins and bars offered by each company. Many individuals like to hold a mix of gold and silver coins and bars in their account, and look to have a sampling of bars and coins from different mints. You may also be interested in adding platinum or palladium to your account to further diversify it. Before committing to work with any company, look through the different coins and bars they offer to make sure they offer the right mix for you. Additionally, if there is a specific coin or bar you want to hold in your portfolio, confirm that it will be available through the company you choose.
Goldco: The Best Gold IRA Company
Now that you've had a chance to read through our reviews of the five Gold IRA companies above, it is time to share our top pick. We think Goldco is the absolute best company to work with when you're looking to set up an IRA. Goldco is an experienced and trusted leader in the precious metals investment industry.
Reviews from past customers of Goldco are overwhelmingly positive, which should provide you with confidence that the services and support they advertise on their website are what you'll actually receive as a customer. Beyond the high ratings from their customers, Goldco has also received the highest ratings possible from the Better Business Bureau and Business Consumer Alliance. The BBB awarded them an A+ rating, and the Business Consumer Alliance has given them an AAA rating.
If you need any other reasons to choose Goldco over other precious metals providers, look at their free silver promotion. When you set up your qualifying IRA, you can earn up to $10,000 in free silver. This is a huge promotion and can help you increase the percentage of precious metals in your investment portfolio.
Now that you've learned more about Goldco and choosing the best Gold IRA company, do you think you'll be giving them a call soon? We strongly recommend Goldco and are confident that you'll be pleased with your decision to work with them to open a Gold IRA and start preparing for retirement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Gold IRAs a good investment?
Predicting the future performance of any asset is difficult. That being said, many financial experts see Gold IRAs as a good opportunity to diversify one's portfolio and protect individuals against market volatility. When a portion of your investments are held in gold, you'll be less negatively impacted by market downturns.
How much of my portfolio should be invested in gold?
The exact percentage of your portfolio that should be invested in gold will vary from one individual to another. While 10% to 15% is often used as a general range for investors, there are a number of factors that will impact the ideal percentage for you. If you are many years away from retirement and are open to greater risk, you may want to invest more of your money in precious metals. On the other hand, if you are nearing the age of retirement, sticking with a smaller percentage of gold and other precious metals in your portfolio may be the best choice.
Can I convert an existing IRA to a Gold IRA?
In many cases, an existing IRA can be rolled over into a Gold IRA. This process is relatively straightforward, and a precious metals provider and IRA custodian can help you navigate the necessary steps. While many IRAs are eligible for a rollover, not all are. Before getting too deep into the process, consult with your IRA custodian to determine whether your account is indeed eligible.
How much money can I invest in Precious Metals through my IRA?
The IRS has set limits on the amount that investors can add to an IRA each year. Individuals under the age of 50 can contribute up to $6,000 per year. Those 50 or older can contribute up to $7,000 per year to their IRA.
